December 1, 2011 - Purity

ACIM Lesson #335
"I choose to see my brother's sinlessness."

[Marsha's thoughts]

Forgiveness is a choice". I remember years ago during a metaphysical society meeting someone saying "Evil is a choice". She said this in relation to years of sexual abuse and psychological torture, perpetuated by the two people she should have trusted most as a child. She recognized that evil was a choice when she was presented with what seemed to be an overwhelming suggestion to do something similar to her infant child. In that moment, she realized she could choose. And she did. And now she chooses forgiveness in all aspects of her life. She has chosen to see her parents in the holy light of Love. She has chosen to live her life in peace, with a willingness to turn from past remembrances and see things in the reality of God's Love. She has chosen forgiveness for herself and her brother, knowing that they are One.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Reasoning from cause to effect in the Science of Mind, we begin with Mind, which must be understood through the idea which expresses it and cannot be learned from its opposite, matter. Thus we arrive at Truth, or intelligence, which evolves its own unerring idea and never can be coordinate with human illusions. If Soul sinned, it would be mortal, for sin is mortality's self, because it kills itself. If Truth is immortal, error must be mortal, because error is unlike Truth. Because Soul is immortal, Soul cannot sin, for sin is not the eternal verity of being."
Science & Health Page 467:29-7

November 30, 2011 - Gifts of Forgiveness

ACIM Lesson #334
"Today I claim the gifts forgiveness gives."


[Marsha's thoughts]

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:2) This renewal is "claiming the gifts forgiveness gives." I've often heard people say they can forgive, but they'll never forget. But isn't the forgetting a result of true forgiveness? When we actually let go of our thoughts of any given circumstance, isn't it as though it never happened? I feel certain this has happened within myself, but since the remembrance is gone, I couldn't tell you what has been forgotten! But a small event which remains unforgiven is brought to mind every time I see a turtle crossing the road. When I was quite young, I was sent to get the mail from the box which was located across the highway from our house. As I was going to the mailbox, I met a turtle coming toward me as he crossed the road. I thought I'd get the mail and then pick him up and take him across on my way back. Before I completed my task and turned back, a car came by and hit the turtle. The regret in not picking it up immediately, the guilt for "failing" to safely carry it across the road, these feelings recur every time I see a turtle. In recounting this event, I realize there is no need to examine each supposed wrongdoing on our part. There is no need to examine our lives and be sorry and be forgiven. To accept the gifts of this forgiveness is our heritage when we clear our minds of blame.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
"We acknowledge God's forgiveness of sin in the destruction of sin and the spiritual understanding that casts out evil as unreal. But the belief in sin is punished so long as the belief lasts."
Science & Health Page 497:9-11

November 29, 2011 - Conflicted Illusions

ACIM Lesson #333
“Forgiveness ends the dream of conflict here.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

The dream of conflict spoken of here reminds me of the myth of Santa Claus and how conflicted I was when it was expected that I participate in it. When my son was two and I was expecting my second child, I announced to a friend that I wasn't going to do the Santa-thing. She told me that was a terrible thing to do to children and gave me many reasons why I shouldn't do away with their belief in this massive illusion. And so in the face of this hysteria, I gave in and perpetuated this suppositional conflict within myself. This is a perfect example of all the illusion we willingly put on ourselves, isn't it? The spirit of Christmas is defined in many superficial ways, and it seems the most blatant of these is Santa Claus. It is used in the same way religion tends to use God. If you are good, if you don't cry, if you don't pout, then Santa/God will give you certain things. If you break these rules, you'd better watch out! Yes, Santa is fun and yes God is good. And there are so many ways to celebrate the goodness which is innately ours through our inseparable Oneness with God! So let's face up to what is real and true about our Life. There is so much to celebrate in that perfect experience!

Mary Baker Eddy quote:
“The suppositional warfare between truth and error is only the mental conflict between the evidence of the spiritual senses and the testimony of the material senses, and this warfare between the Spirit and flesh will settle all questions through faith in and the understanding of divine Love.”
Science & Health Page 288:3-7

November 28, 2011 - Things into Thoughts

ACIM Lesson #332
“Fear binds the world. Forgiveness sets it free.”[Marsha’s thoughts]

photo by Melanie Myhre

Many mind-over-matter systems are part of our society. In the 1800's, mesmerism and hypnotism were thought to be the route to changing our physical experience and getting us what we want. Today we have "The Secret" telling us how to get the mate of our dreams and hot cars and such. Some may think that the way of thought we're studying here falls into the same category, because we are "resolving things into thoughts". Here is an example of how it differs: Let's say we need a place to live. How do we think about this in order to manifest it in our existence? By understanding the substance of an idea! What are the spiritual qualities of this place to live, this house, this home? What does it represent? Some of the qualities of home could be warmth, comfort, peace, safety, beauty, love, hospitality. So the thought of "home" is really a spiritual idea, and these qualities of home already exist in our individual consciousness. We don't have to go out and find them, because they're already a permanent part of our being. We can express all these qualities included in the concept of home no matter where we are. And when we express these qualities, we are cherishing our spiritual home, and this blessing is extended to others as well. As we consistently express these and other spiritual qualities, we won't be surprised when every need we have is supplied.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

"Divine Science, rising above physical theories, excludes matter, resolves things into thoughts, and replaces the objects of material sense with spiritual ideas.”
Science and Health Page 123:12-15

November 27, 2011 - Radical Reliance

ACIM Lesson #331
“There is no conflict, for my will is Yours.”

Aaron Springston
Mongolia photos

[Marsha's thoughts]
I am reminded of many friends and loved ones who consider themselves victims, at the mercy of drugs and alcohol. With the proliferation of prescription drugs, I must include those dear imbibers in this group, too. In hoping to find fixes for various maladies, we turn to drugs for cure. Seeking a way out of depression and sadness and fear, we turn to so-called recreational drugs to hide. The drugs taken for a cure of disease rarely do more than mask symptoms and bring about other interesting events. The drugs we use to hide from ourselves usually work for a while, but then we're left in a deeper well than we were before. I've found the only way through this despair is a radical reliance on the Truth of our Being. Going within, if you will. Resting in the One. Relying on Love. Living in Truth. This is where healing is found, in this single-minded realization that my will is God's, and God's will is mine. There is nothing to fear when we see the truth in the acronym for that word: False Evidence Appearing Real.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“The flesh and Spirit can no more unite in action, than good can coincide with evil. It is not wise to take a halting and half-way position or to expect to work equally with Spirit and matter, Truth and error. There is but one way--namely, God and His idea--which leads to spiritual being. The scientific government of the body must be attained through the divine Mind. It is impossible to gain control over the body in any other way. On this fundamental point, timid conservatism is absolutely inadmissible. Only through radical reliance on Truth can scientific healing power be realized.”

Science & Health Page 167:20-3

November 26, 2011 - True Being

ACIM Lesson #330
“I will not hurt myself again today.”

[Marsha’s thoughts]

Jesus was here to teach us many things, not the least of which was how to be nice to each other. His two commandments were to love God above all else and to love our neighbor as ourselves. I've often thought that we need to love ourselves more, because it seems so many of us are expressing the lack of love for ourselves in our actions toward others. And Jesus was also telling us we are capable of so much more than we know. We are not powerless victims of circumstance. He tells us that the things he does, so can we -- and more! Power and dominion have become ugly words because of the things done to others by ruthless people. True power and dominion have to do with peace and grace and Love expressed through the healing power within. We are capable of more than we know. Let's not be afraid to express that power in healing every ill which seems so real to our material sense. We are spiritual Beings, expressions of God, perfect and whole, needing nothing to be added or taken away for that perfection to show forth and bless all mankind.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“In divine Science, man is the true image of God. The divine nature was best expressed in Christ Jesus, who threw upon mortals the truer reflection of God and lifted their lives higher than their poor thought-models would allow,--thoughts which presented man as fallen, sick, sinning, and dying. The Christlike understanding of scientific being and divine healing includes a perfect Principle and idea,--perfect God and perfect man,--as the basis of thought and demonstration.”

Science & Health Page 259:6-15



November 25, 2011 - Acknowledgement

ACIM Lesson# 329
“I have already chosen what You will.”

[Marsha's thoughts]

We think and do the oddest things don't we? The holidays we invent to insure that we remember certain things -- Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving -- Why would we forget to be grateful, or remember loved ones, or be thankful for everyone who works hard to insure that things keep on keeping' on? And the celebration of birthdays has never felt right to me either. It seems to be just another way to make us feel special. I love the way the Aboriginal people think of this. They see the silliness of celebrating being a year older, of marking a meaningless passing of so-called time, but instead announce to loved ones when they have grown larger in their understanding of Life and say, Let's celebrate! The leaving behind of our personal sense of will and the acceptance of the divine Will leaves nothing but Thanksgiving every day.

Mary Baker Eddy quote:

“Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [spiritual interpretation of this line from the Lord’s Prayer] Enable us to know,--as in heaven, so on earth,--God is omnipotent, supreme.”

Science & Health Page 17:1-3